Coalisland assault victim hit with crowbar had his spleen removed

A young man, who was attacked in the middle of Coalisland, had his spleen removed after he was struck with a crowbar, a court heard.

The court was told that Jamie Michael Reynolds suffered multiple injuries and would be on medication for life after Martin Patrick Day, The Shannon Clinic, Knockbracken Park, Saintfield Road, Belfast struck him in the side with a crowbar on March 30 last year.

The 27 year-old defendant pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully and maliciously causing grievous bodily harm to Jamie Michael Reynolds with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.

The incident happened at Mourne Crescent, Coalisland on the date in question.

In sentencing Day, Judge Paul Ramsey said Jamie Michael Reynolds was walking at Mourne Crescent Coalisland with a few friends when a man came at them with a crowbar.

The man shouted “Hey you” before hitting Jamie Reynolds in the side.

The man then fled the scene.

Jamie Reynolds was taken by ambulance to hospital where he had his spleen removed later that night.

The court was told the maximum penalty for such an offence after a contest was five to nine years in prison.

The court heard that there was a Probation Report, a victim impact statement and two reports from Day’s psychiatrist Dr East.

Judge Paul Ramsey said this case was in the middle spectrum as the defendant’s mental disability meant that his culpability was low.

The judge noted that a victim impact statement stated the injured party was not able to go to the gym, was self conscious about a scar, his confidence was low and he was depressed.

Judge Ramsey said Dr East had been dealing with the defendant for the past six years.